Christine Shepherd
In 1983 I was a special needs teacher in a very good secondary school. Like any community, the school contained a few challenging individuals and after a particularly large youngster threatened to punch me, I wondered what I would have done if he had carried out his threat. From a mixture of curiosity and self preservation I went on a two day women's self-defence course and found that the parts that intrigued me most were those that came from aikido - the first time I had heard the name. A colleague put me in touch with her brother-in-law, Sensei Baird. I was immediately hooked and have continued my training while raising a family and changing careers. From early days, aikido gave me an extra helping of confidence - I knew I had strategies to deal with or (even better) to avoid aggression.
I gained my 3rd Dan in November 2004 and I hold the BAB (British Aikido Board) Coach Award. In teaching aikido, I aim to share the enjoyment and exhiliration that comes from its combination of physical and mental exertion.
Chris Wallace
I started my Martial Arts training in 1975 at the age of 20 with Shotokan Karate, having had a brief spell at Judo in my late teens.
The first three years of my Karate training were spent under the direction of Kowaswe Sensei, which gave me a good basic grounding in the art.
I then had a 3 year break and recommenced with 12 months studying Wadoryu and a short period with Shukakai, before returning to Shotokan and taking my 1st Dan in 1989 under Kato Sensei.
I started my Aikido training with Andrew Baird Sensei in Altrincham in 1990. I felt I had reached a plateau in my Karate training and was ready for something different. I had seen an Aikido demonstration in the late 70’s and always had it in the back of my mind that one day I would have a go. It was originally my intention that Aikido would simply be an enhancement to my Karate. 19 years later I am still here, having taken 1st Dan in 1997 under Marion Mucha Sensei and 2nd Dan in 2000 under Bob Spence Sensei. I was graded 3rd Dan in 2004 and I hold the BAB Level 1 Coach award.
For my sins, I am the Association representative for our Governing Body, the British Aikido Board.
In January 2008 I co-founded Marple Aikido with Christine Shepherd.
Wendy Wallace
I first started martial arts training when I was around 28 years old. I practised first wadaroo, then shotokan karate. Over the next few years I had several breaks in training, and tried a few different clubs, eventually reaching 4th kyu (purple and white belt). At this stage I began to feel that karate was too competitive for me. I was worried about the risk of injury, having 3 young children to look after.
Over the next few years, the rest of my family became involved with Aikido and did their best to entice me onto the mat. I watched a few times but felt that Aikido was beyond me, especially the break falls, but they would have none of it, and badgered me relentlessly. Eventually, I decided the best way get them to stop was to try a beginners course, once a week for 6 weeks, what did I have to lose?? That was 15 years ago! After 6 weeks I was totally hooked, and I have never looked back.
After 10 years of training, I took my 1st Dan, and have been on the coaching rota for Trafford since then. My training has been restricted in the last couple of years, and last year I had a hip replacement.
I hope to be back on the mat later in 2009.
In 1983 I was a special needs teacher in a very good secondary school. Like any community, the school contained a few challenging individuals and after a particularly large youngster threatened to punch me, I wondered what I would have done if he had carried out his threat. From a mixture of curiosity and self preservation I went on a two day women's self-defence course and found that the parts that intrigued me most were those that came from aikido - the first time I had heard the name. A colleague put me in touch with her brother-in-law, Sensei Baird. I was immediately hooked and have continued my training while raising a family and changing careers. From early days, aikido gave me an extra helping of confidence - I knew I had strategies to deal with or (even better) to avoid aggression.
I gained my 3rd Dan in November 2004 and I hold the BAB (British Aikido Board) Coach Award. In teaching aikido, I aim to share the enjoyment and exhiliration that comes from its combination of physical and mental exertion.
Chris Wallace
I started my Martial Arts training in 1975 at the age of 20 with Shotokan Karate, having had a brief spell at Judo in my late teens.
The first three years of my Karate training were spent under the direction of Kowaswe Sensei, which gave me a good basic grounding in the art.
I then had a 3 year break and recommenced with 12 months studying Wadoryu and a short period with Shukakai, before returning to Shotokan and taking my 1st Dan in 1989 under Kato Sensei.
I started my Aikido training with Andrew Baird Sensei in Altrincham in 1990. I felt I had reached a plateau in my Karate training and was ready for something different. I had seen an Aikido demonstration in the late 70’s and always had it in the back of my mind that one day I would have a go. It was originally my intention that Aikido would simply be an enhancement to my Karate. 19 years later I am still here, having taken 1st Dan in 1997 under Marion Mucha Sensei and 2nd Dan in 2000 under Bob Spence Sensei. I was graded 3rd Dan in 2004 and I hold the BAB Level 1 Coach award.
For my sins, I am the Association representative for our Governing Body, the British Aikido Board.
In January 2008 I co-founded Marple Aikido with Christine Shepherd.
Wendy Wallace
I first started martial arts training when I was around 28 years old. I practised first wadaroo, then shotokan karate. Over the next few years I had several breaks in training, and tried a few different clubs, eventually reaching 4th kyu (purple and white belt). At this stage I began to feel that karate was too competitive for me. I was worried about the risk of injury, having 3 young children to look after.
Over the next few years, the rest of my family became involved with Aikido and did their best to entice me onto the mat. I watched a few times but felt that Aikido was beyond me, especially the break falls, but they would have none of it, and badgered me relentlessly. Eventually, I decided the best way get them to stop was to try a beginners course, once a week for 6 weeks, what did I have to lose?? That was 15 years ago! After 6 weeks I was totally hooked, and I have never looked back.
After 10 years of training, I took my 1st Dan, and have been on the coaching rota for Trafford since then. My training has been restricted in the last couple of years, and last year I had a hip replacement.
I hope to be back on the mat later in 2009.
© 2009 Marple Aikido Club
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